murkland



3 Sheets--Sheet 3..

W. MURKLAN D.

Looms.

Patented Feb. 5,1861h NV PETERS. PHOTO-LITMOGRAPNR, WASMNGTON. Dv C4 FFIC.

iILLIAM MURKLAND, OF LO\VELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOOM.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 81,324, dated February 5, 1861. n

To all'wwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM MURKLAND, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looms, of which the following' is a specification.

In many kinds of figured weaving, the filling threads are required to be of various colors, and this is especially the case in the weaving of ing'rain carpets.

Although the description of my invention is, in the following specification, limited to the carpet weaving yet the improvements are capable of being' used upon similar fabrics requiring different colored filling threads. In ingrain carpet weaving, each figure to be produced upon the fabric often requires twenty or thirty different colors in the iilling threads so that, in weaving a yard or a yard and a half of carpet, twenty or thirty different shuttles, each carrying a different color, must be introduced.

My improvements are. confined to t-he method of introducing these shuttles, without any regard to the other operations of the loom, which may be effected in any of the well known means.

Most looms in use for weaving plain fabrics and probably, most for wea\\"ing figured fabrics, have their shuttles upon the lay of the loom, so that, as the lay swings forward to beat the filling into place by the reed, the shuttle moves forward with it and then returns back with it. This method is suitable for a few shuttles which can be moved upon the lay 4so that each can be brought into the line of the race, to be thrown across the web; but when the number of shuttles is increased, they, together with their boxes and appendages, become cumbersome, and by their weight, limit and control the speed of the loom; this is especially the case in carpet weaving, where the shuttles are necessarily large.

My improvements as I have arranged them, are adapted to that class of looms, which has its lay independent of the shuttle boxes and similar to that describedby E. B. Bigelow in his patent of February 18th 1846, in which the lay, at the extremity of its backward motion from the cloth, is at rest while the shuttle then required is thrown across. I shall particularly describe my improvements as applied to such a construction of loom, but they are equally applicable to others.

The prominent and controlling feature of my improvements, consists in providing a series of reserve shuttle boxes to contain the requisite number of shuttles that may be desired, which reserve shuttle boxes are so arranged, that, so long as either of the shuttles contained in them is not required in the fabric, they will all remain, absolutely without any movement or change of position, and when one of them is so required, it is then brought into connection with the active parts of the loom and worked so long as is necessary, and afterward put back into the quietude of the reserve series, and another taken from the reserve series, for use. With this reserve series, I also provide for the working of another series of shuttle boxes, or ay single shuttle box, to contain shuttles which are to be used in connection with those of the reserve series. These I call the active series; the lower one alternates with those which are contained in the reserve series; and in order to bring one of the reserve series into use, the one last used of the active series must be moved out of the working' position of the shuttle, and vice versa, since there is but one race over which all the shuttles must be thrown.

rIhe accompanying drawings represent an arrangement of my improvements, wherein there are thirteen reserve shuttle boxes arranged in a cylindrical form about a center, and a series of two 'active shuttle boxes, above the reserve series, arranged to slide up and down nearly vertically.

I have represented the contrivanee as applied only to the right hand side of the loom, as that on the other side will be similar. Neither have I represented the cloth making, and other parts of the loom, as they form no part of my invention.

Figure l, is an elevation, looking from the rear or warp end of the loom, toward the cloth end. Fig. Q, is an elevation of the side, looking in the direction in which the shuttles enter the warp. Fig. 3, is a skeleton "drawing, showing the apparatus for shifting the reserveV shuttle boxes' in order to bring each of their shuttles into action. Fig. 4, is a detached elevation of theprotecting and carrying' disk to prevent the reserve shuttles from moving forward when not in use. Fig. 5, is a detached view of one of the reserve shuttle boxes.

A, is a part of the frame of the body of the loom.

B, is a side frame supporting the shuttle I apparatus and has a stiffening bracket C.

The picking motion which propels the shuttles, is derived from the strap D, (not shown in the model) which is connected with the picking lever of the loom not here shown. This strap is attached to the arm E, which is fixed upon the end of the short sented before this picker in order to be thrown across the web.

As represented in the drawing the shuttle contained in the lower of the two active boxes is in position to be thrown. The active shuttle boxes K, K, are upon a frame L, L, which has V grooves upon its ends fitted to slide upon corresponding V tongues upon the side frame B. These boxes have the ordinary friction binders M M, and springs N, N, to check and hold the shuttles. The frame L, L, is moved up and down, in order to bring the required shuttle into position, by means of the rods O, kO, (chains substituted for these rods in the modeD chains P, 1), wheels Q, Q, and rotating shaft B, R. This shaft is actuated by the cam Y, operating upon the lever Q, which is connected with the shaft R, R, by means of the rod 71, pin e, and wheel Z.

The reserve shuttle boxes S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, are arranged about a central shaft T, which is supported in bearings upon the side frame B. Attached to this s haft, near each end, are hubs having radial arms U, U, U, U, U, U, U, U, U, U, U, and the outer extremities of the radial arms are connected by a polygonal circumference.

lEach of these radial arms has, projecting from it, a hub V, through which is formed a circular hole, having its axis in the direction of the radius, and also another hub into which are inserted short pins WV, WV, W, &c. at right angles with the radiating arms, and parallel with the central shaft T. These pins are for the purpose of arresting and retaining the polygonal reserve shuttle box frame in proper position, by their combination with the curved headed hammer X.

This hammer has, extending downward from it, a spindle that is supported and guided in a stand upon the side frame B, and by means of a spiral spring upon it, the curved head of the hammer .is at all times pressed upward against the pins TV, W, &c. and the most prominent part of the head of the hammer projects between the two adjacent pins and prevents them from movement except by considerable force. Now when it is required to turn the polygon of reserve boxes, if sufficient force be applied, the hammer is forced downward and one of the pins traverses over the face or upper surface, and the hammer will then rise between the next two pins and. again hold the polygon with sufficient firmness. The force of the spring upon the spindle of the hammer and the form of its face are sufficient to move the polygon slightly and insure that the two pins in contact with the hammer shall be brought to the same relative position with the hammer, and of course, insures a corresponding relative position of the other parts attached to the polygon.

The shuttle boxes S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, of the polygon, are made similar in their general parts to those of ordinary use, and are each provided with a binder and spring to check and hold the shuttle. To the upper edge of the binder is a projection Z, seen in Fig. 5, which overlaps the shuttle and prevents its falling out of the box when at the lower portion of the polygon. At each end of the shuttle box is a groove to correspond and embrace the tongues that are on the side frame B, when this box is brought into use. From the bottom of each reserve shuttle box and near each end of each, guiding spindles a, a, project and extend through the hubs V, V, &c. These guiding spindles allow the shuttle boxes to be moved away from the polygonal semicircular, stationary, curved retaining piece c, so that, when the shuttle box is below the center of the polygon, it will not fall out of the polygon frame, by its own weight.

The center of the polygonal frame is in a line with the centers of the two active shuttle boxes, and thus the uppermost of the shuttle boxes of the reserve series lis directly under and in the working line of the active shuttle boxes. Now when one of the reserve shuttles is required to be used, it must be brought up so as to come into line of the movement of the picker I. To accomplish this, a lifting hook (Z, is attached to each end of the lower active shuttle box, and extends under the uppermost of the reserve shuttle boxes. Now when the active shuttle boxes are raised, by rotating the shaft R, R, the reserve shuttlebox is lifted up into the line of the picker, thus taking away the active shuttle box and replacing it by one of the reserve series, and the shuttle from the reserve shuttle box can be thrown across the web. It will be observed that this action does not entirely separate the reserve shuttle box from the polygonal frame, it being all Y through -the while guided and attached by the guide spindles a, a.

Then the shuttle ot' the reserve box has completed its service, the shuttle box is lowered to its original place by the further rotation of the shaft R, R. In practice this movement up and down, alternating between the two shuttles, is ordinarily required to be regular so far as to bring the same change about, in from two to 'our beats ot' the lay, and is continued until the next shuttle ot' the reserve series is desired for service, when the whole polygonal frame, boxes and sluittles are made to rotate upon the centers, until the next shuttle is brought uppermost and in line with the active shuttles. This is aecomplished by means ot' an apparatus shown in skeleton Fig. 3. This apparatus is situated at the opposite end of the polygonal frame, from the hammer and pins for retaining it in position heretofore described. The central shaft is shown at T, and thirteen pins e, e, e, c, e, e, e, &c., project from the polygonal frame in precisely the same manner as the pins lV, lV, lV, &c., except that they are in the reverse direction, projecting toward the body of the loom, whereas th-e pins 7, lV, WT, &c., project in the opposite direction.

By means of a cam f, and lever g, shown in l and 2. the connecting bar z., is caused to move down and up as often as there is a possibility of a change of the reserve shuttles required. This bar carri-es upon its upper end the sliding traine 79, to which the hooks 2', e', are jointed. These hooks are confined at a proper distance apartby the link j; to the middle of this link is jointed another link l, which at its other end is jointed to the T piece s. It will be seen, that so long as this T piece relnainsas shown in full lilies, the sliding trame j), and its hooks, can be moved down and up again without the hooks engaging with the pins e, e, &c., but that, it the lower extremity of the T piece is moved to the lett, the lett hand hook will be brought into a position, so as to engage with one of the pins, so that when the hook is moved downward the pin will be moved by it. This position is shown in the drawing by dotted lines. lt will also be seen, that if the lower part of the T piece had been moved to the right, instead of to the left, from its original position, that the right hand hook would have been in position to engage with the adjacent pin. It will also be seen that the downward movement of the frame y), and its hooks, will cause the polygonal frame to rotate a short distance in either direction, to the left or to the right, depending upon which of the two hooks is caused to engage with the pins.

The T piece s, has its vertical limb passing a slot in the supporting stand L, and its horizontal limb, being thicker, lies upon the upper surface of the stand. To each end of the horizontal limb is attached a string, and weights m, m, (for which, springs are substituted in the model) and to the same point are also attached knot cords, from the jacquard ot' the loom, which are not here shown. For the purpose of more conveniently illustrating the working of this apparatus a cam t, lever il, rod e, lever te, and hook m, shown in Fig. l have been substituted for the knot cords referred to.

In the practical working of the loom. either of the knot cords attached to the T piece, can be drawn up a short distance, at any stage of the weaving of the figure, in the same manner as each of the warp threads are drawn up. Then the lett hand side of the T piece is drawn up, by attaching the hook m, to it, the apparatus assumes the position shown in dotted lines, causing the lett hand hook to engage with the pin,` and the polygonal frame to turn to the left, and when the right hand side is drawn up, the whole apparatus takes the opposite direction.

Itl will be observed that the position ot the polygonal reserve shuttle boxes and frame (as shown in the drawings) will not allow the descent of the upper ot' the two active sliding boxes, down to the line or' the picker. In order to be able to do this, which is necessary to the full use of all the shuttles, an adjustment ot' the polygonal wheel is provided for, by sliding' the polygonal frame down upon the side frame B, a distance equal to the depth ot one of the shuttle boxes. Thisais an adjustment that only required to be made, when a peculiar class' of weaving is desired. and so long as the saine figure or`style oit' goods being made, is not to 'be changed. This adjustment can be made by fastening the supporting bearings of the central shaft of the polygonal frame, at a point lower down upon the side frame B, shortening the bar 7i, and also lowering the T piece s.

In order to operate in making plain two7 ply ingrain77 carpet, the apparatus is arranged as shown in the drawings and the upper of the two act-ive shuttle boxes is not used. In the weaving7 if so many colors are required, all the shuttle boxes of the reserve series, on both sides of the loom, are filled with shuttles, and no shuttle is put into the shuttle boxes of the active series on either side ot' the loom. Now by bringing one of the shuttle boxes of the reserve series that is on the right hand side of the loom, opposite the race, and, on the other side ot' the loom the lower shuttle box of the active series opposite the race, a shuttle can then be thrown from the reserve shuttle box that to their original boxes.

is on the right, to the act-ive shuttle box that is on the lett. The reserve box on the right is now lowered, bringing its connected active shuttle box in line of the race, and the active shuttle box on the left and its connected reserve shuttle box, are raised, bringing the reserve shuttle box on the left hand side of the loom into the line of the race. Now a shuttle can be thrown from the reserve shuttle box on the left, to the active shuttle box on the right; a reverse movement of the shuttle boxes successively, will enable the shuttles to be Ythrown back again If when they are thus returned, it is desired to exchange them for others, then the polygonal shuttle box frame is turned upon its axis,vas has been described, and another shuttle brought into use.

lirorder to weave three ply ingrain caret or shot and shot two ply ingrain carpet 7 the two boxes of the active series must be used on both sides of the loom. Also in order to weave shot and shot three ply ingrain carpet there must be three shuttle boxes in the active series on each side of the loom. Provision is shown in the drawing for lowering the polygon to meetthis requirement, but only two active boxes are shown; the third is to be placed above the two shown.

Toprovide for the contingency of a failure of the shuttle to fully enter its box when thrown across a protecting apparatus, similar to that used on this kind of loom, is provided, and its touching nger is shown at n, and as each shuttle box that is being used is brought to the same position, this one protector acts alike on all the shuttle boxes, and in case of a failure of the shuttle to enter the box the loom is stopped by the action of this protector.

An annular ring marked o, shown fully in Fig. 4I, and drawn in blue lines on the other drawings, is supported upon small wheels at its inner edge, so as to have a free movement about its center. This ring is opposite the ends of the shuttles when in place, and prevents them from moving endwise out of their boxes.

- In cases where the polygon of shuttles is continuously worked in one direction, the filling threads, leading from the shuttles to the cloth, can be cut and their ends attached to the ring, and, by revolving the ring the ends can be passed around the axis of the polygon, and any entanglement arising from the winding of the ends about the axis, may thus be avoided.

lhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the reserve shuttle boxes-with the active shuttle boxes, by attaching and detaching the several reserve shuttle. boxes, to and from the active shuttle boxes, under a construction and mode of operation, substantially as set forth.

2. The adjustment of the reserve shuttle boxes with the active shuttle boxes, so as to allow the use of one or more of the active series, substantially as described.

3. The construction and use of the annular disk, for the purpose of keeping the shuttles in place, and for passing the ends of the yarns around the axis of the polygonal shuttle box frame. Y

4l. The manner of holding the boxes of the polygonal frame in their'position, by means of a segment of a circle or its equivalent.

VILLIAM MURKLAND. Witnesses:

C. H. SALMON, J. M. BABooox. 

